I just wanted to post my support for the WGA and other Hollywood union members that are joining the fight. I think the way you're utilizing the internet to get the word out is not only ironic, but extremely effective. This massive communication system wasn't around the last time, and I can only hope that support from viewers increases the pressure put on executives to end the strike on your terms.

California is a few states over, but I hope knowing you have the support of your fans increases your resolve. Good luck and let's hope this comes to a swift end!

An avid tv fan called me while I was on the picket line today. She suggested getting the fan base of the shows currently affected by the strike involved, instead of leaving them out there, feeling cheated. Jericho fans influenced the network to bring the show back when it was canceled by flooding network offices with peanuts. Roswell fans brought back their show by inundating the network with bottles of Tabasco sauce.

My friend suggested every showrunner call upon the fans of each show to send in 4 pennies, representing the 4 cents the Companies won't add to our DVD formula. (The 4 pennies would just be a symbol, but the fans would be saying, "I'm willing to support this show and the people who create it -- why aren't you?") Millions of envelopes with 4 pennies in each envelope, sent to every network with a show that's being shut down, along with a downloadable form with the fan's name, imploring the network to make a deal with the writers because they love these shows so much they're willing to chip in the 4 cents the companies seem unwilling to give the writers.

I thought it was a great grassroots campaign that could galvanize some of the writing teams & solidify their ongoing relationships with their fans.

Is anyone picketing YouTube or Google video? I watch more things on there than all the networks & cable stations combined. Frankly... thank god for my Tivo. Record my 3 shows (Lost, Office & Ace of Cakes) and I'm gone. Hollywood studios are bankrupt when it comes to new ideas. Writers should form their own companies, go online only and get a few sales people to bumper the content with ads.

Highly recommend all involved in the strike join Reddit, and use it to amplify your message. It has a lower barrier to entry than Digg, and a more active audience.

Consider the success Ron Paulites have found in part by using Reddit as an aggregator.

Lots of Redditors are starting to play closer attention to the strike, so getting people who are actually walking the lines to post from their blogs would only aid in getting eyeballs where you need them.

In fact you can all be your own live reporters, and make sure that your side is presented the way you want it to be - unfiltered.

Links from Around the Web

The Big Introduction

Who are you people? United Hollywood advocates for working people in the entertainment industry facing the digital revolution. We are not an official site of any guild or union, so our opinions are our own. Founded by a group of WGA strike captains, our contributors are both writers and non-writers. If you've got any questions or stories we should know about, email us at unitedhollywood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Video Blogging

Check out U.H. videos on our YouTube page. Here are a few from our page and from some of our friends: